Interchangeable sign element



Sept. 4; 1928. 1,683,570

L. N. MOSS INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN ELEMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1926 INVENTORWITNESSES Louis BY Ma v v I ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1928 P TENT:OFFICE.

H LoUIs-N. moss, or CEDARHURST, NEW YORK.

mmacmm ma SIGN, ELEMENT. 0

Application filed November 2, 1926. Serial No. 145,880

This invention relates to illuminated' signs and has particularreference to an interchangeable or convertible sign element which isparticularly applicable to signs of the type set forth in my co-pendingapplication, Serial N 0. 140,901, -filed October 11, 1926. One of theoutstanding objects of the present invention is to provide a signelement which simulates an electric bulb and which may be illuminatedeither by reflection from a flood light or by penetration of light raystherethrough from a source of light.

More specifically the invention comprehends a convertible orinterchangeable sign element includinga bulb andinterengageable meanswithin the open inner end thereof and on a plurality of respectivelytransparent and reflective plugs whereby interchanging of the type ofplugs desiredis facilitated to render the bulbs convertible for floodlighting or penetration illumination.

The invention furthermore comprehends the use of bulbs and plugs ofdifferent colors which may be combinedin various ways to obtain amultiplicity of effects.

The invention aims as a further obj ec'tto provide interchangeableconvertible sign elements which are comparativelysimple, inexpensive andeflicient. V

With the above and other recited objects in view, reference is had tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which there isexhibited one example or embodiment of the invention which is in no wayintended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims as it isto, be clearly" understood that variations and modifications whichproperly fall within the scope of said claims may be resorted to whenfound expe dient.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating one of thesign elements in applied position and having a reflector plug associatedtherewith to permit of the use of the element in connection with a floodlight. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken mately on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the plug element removed;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig ure 1 with a transparentplug associated with the bulb to permit of illumination by penetration;

approxistituting the present bulb 12 of glass or other transparentmaterial. substantially simulating an electric lamp or Figure 5 is arear view of lustrated in Figure 4%. I

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 designates thesign base which may be the wall of a cabinet, a pa'nel'or the like, andwhich base is provided with an aperture or apertures 11.

invention includes a bulb,and provided at its open restricted end withinterior and exterior threads 13 and 14. The exterior threads 14 areadapted to engage within the threaded socket member 15 which is attachedto the base 10 and is disposed in alignment with the aperture 11 wherebythe bulb 12 is detachably connected with the base. 7 The, sign elementfurther includes a plug 16 which is exteriorly detachably fit within theinterior threaded end 13 of the bulb and said plug may either be opaqueand have a reflecting lens 18 on its outer face, or may be of atransparent nature as designated by the reference character 19 in VFigure 4. The reflector or transparent plugs may be of different colorsas may be the bulbs 12 whereby difi'erent may be obtained. Where thesign is to be illuminated by a flood light the reflector plugs areassociated with the bulbs 12, and conversely where an interiorpenetratingsource of light is to be used for illuminating the sign thedevice as ilor varied color effects The sign element conthreaded at 17to,

transparent plugs 19 are associated With the bulbs. In order tofacilitate the association and disassociation of the plugs with thebulbs the'plugs are preferably formed on the rear face with a rib 20 toconstitute a finger grip for screwing and unscrewing the plugs;

From the foregoing it Wlll thus be seen that an interchangeable andconvertible sign element has been devised which may be emplo ed as ameans for simulating electric bul sby the use of a single economize inthe consumptionof current used.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sign including an apertured base, convertible andinterchangeable elements adapted to be respectively illuminated bypenetration and flood lighting, said elements including a transparentbulb, interengageable means on the bulb and sign base for connecting thebulb to the base in alignment with source of light to r the aperture andinterengageable means with a in the open end of the bulb and on aplurality of respectively transparent and reflective plugs to.interchangeably connect the plugs within the bulbs whereby to render thebulbs convertible for flood'lighting or penetration illumination.

2. A convertible and interchangeable s gn ele1ncnt,1nclud1ng a bulbhaving an exteriorly threaded open end adapted for engage-- ment with athreaded support and internal threads at said open end and on aplurality of respectively transparent and reflective vplugs tointerchangeably connect the plugs \vithin the bulbs whereby t0 renderthe bulbs convertible for flood-lighting or'penctration illumination. o

3. A convertible and interchangeable sign element, including a bulbhaving an exteriorly threaded open end adapted for engagement with athreaded support and internal threads at said open end and on a pluralitof a respectively. transparent and reflective p ugs' to interchangeablyconnect the plugs within "the bulbs whereby to render the bulbs con- Lous 1;. Moss.

